Jade Cargill once said AEW was her version of NXT — but now she’s admitting there are parts of WWE’s system she didn’t get.
After previously saying “my NXT was AEW,” Cargill is now opening up about what she didn’t get by going straight to WWE’s main roster — and the reality hit once she was already in the system. Speaking to Joey Karni on April 24, 2026, Cargill explained that the differences didn’t fully register until she was living the WWE schedule and environment day-to-day.
“I mean, it’s a lot of things I feel like I missed at NXT, and you don’t see that until you’re actually in the storm.”
She then broke down one of the biggest adjustments — the pace of WWE compared to what she was used to before joining the company. Cargill made it clear that the shift wasn’t easy at first, especially when it came to the constant travel and workload that comes with WWE’s system.
“But the crazy schedule that is here—you know, I was used to working one day a week, and then I come here and you’re on the go all the time. All the time. And I remember when I was in the tag team—I wouldn’t call it complaining because I wasn’t used to it—but I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re working this show and this show and this show.’ I wasn’t used to being on the go like this.”
Beyond the schedule, she pointed to something deeper — the relationships and chemistry that many WWE stars build over years in NXT, something she didn’t have walking in.
“But also the camaraderie of the locker room and just building that trust with my co-workers and things like that… they have stories that go back years, and I sit there and I’m like, ‘Well, I just met you guys.’ We don’t have that depth.”
That lack of shared experience also affected how others viewed her in the ring, especially when it came to understanding her character and trusting her style.
“But storytelling, and then on top of that, just them knowing your overall character and your move set—so when I came, people really didn’t know my character and what I was about.”
At the same time, Jade Cargill made it clear she’s growing into that role — and earning more trust as she goes.
“I think we’re getting there and seeing how raw I am. I don’t need a script—just let me talk. I can talk my stuff… So I think they’re trusting me more with that kind of stuff.”
This update changes the narrative from Cargill embracing her unconventional path to acknowledging the gaps it created — especially compared to stars who spent years developing in WWE’s system.
Instead of framing AEW as a complete substitute for NXT, Cargill is now recognizing that certain parts of WWE’s developmental process — from travel to trust-building — only become clear once you’re fully inside it.
Do you think Jade Cargill would’ve benefited from going through NXT first, or is learning on the main roster helping her evolve faster? Let us know your thoughts.
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